The Name Chosen by Amir al-Muminin for the Moon of Banu Hashim
When Abu al-Fadhl al-Abbas (peace be upon him) was born, his noble mother Umm al-Banin (peace be upon her) placed the newborn in the arms of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (peace be upon him), so that he might choose a name for him. The Imam recited the call to prayer (adhan) in his right ear and the iqamah in his left, then declared:
“I have named him Abbas, after my uncle.”
The name Abbas is an intensive form derived from the root abasa, meaning sternness or severity of countenance. Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas (peace be upon him) was a manifest embodiment of the Quranic description: “stern against the disbelievers” (Quran 48:29). Toward the enemies of truth, he was resolute and awe-inspiring; in battle, courageous and indomitable.
The late Allamah al-Hairi writes in Maali al-Sibtayn:
“Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) named him Abbas because he knew of the bravery, majesty, might, and righteous fury he would display in combat against the enemies. Before him, foes would tremble, and their faces would pale in fear. He was a hero who inherited valor from his father, and through him the noses of the misguided were ground into the dust.”
After naming him, Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) kissed the infant’s hands and wept. When Umm al-Banin (peace be upon her) asked the reason for his tears, he replied:
“It is as though I see these hands severed on the Day of Ashura, by the banks of the Euphrates, while aiding and defending his brother al-Hussain.”
The Battle Cry of al-Abbas (peace be upon him) in Karbala
Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas (peace be upon him) inherited his valor and martial spirit from his father. His devotion to guardianship (wilayah) and his unwavering allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) were evident throughout his noble life.
A clear testimony to this is his self-introduction on the battlefield of Karbala, when he proclaimed:
“I am al-Abbas, the embodiment of loyalty and devotion,
the son of Ali—the pure, the divinely supported.”
Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas (peace be upon him) stands as an unparalleled model of devotion to divine leadership for all humanity and all ages. Throughout his life—fourteen years during the lifetime of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), ten years under Imam Hasan (peace be upon him), and ten years alongside Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him)—he remained in absolute obedience to the Imam of his time.
The Veiled Defender of Siffin and the Guardian of al-Ghadir
It is narrated that during the heat of the Battle of Siffin, a young warrior emerged from the ranks of the army of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), his face veiled. He appeared to be about seventeen years old, yet his presence cast a shadow of awe over the battlefield. He galloped forth and challenged the enemy to combat.
Muawiyah ordered Abu al-Ashatha to confront him. Abu al-Ashatha replied arrogantly:
“The people of Syria consider me equal to a thousand horsemen, and you wish to send me against a mere youth?! I shall send one of my seven sons to deal with him!”
He sent his first son into the field, but the veiled youth killed him. One after another, each of Abu al-Ashatha’s sons entered the battlefield—and each met the same fate at the hands of that young warrior.
When Abu al-Ashatha saw this, the world darkened before his eyes. Enraged and desperate, he himself charged toward the veiled youth, but upon their encounter, he too was dispatched to destruction. After this, no one dared to enter the field.
The veiled warrior then turned his reins triumphantly toward the army of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him). The companions stood in astonishment, asking among themselves: Who is this valiant youth?
Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) summoned him, lifted the veil from his blessed face, and there—before the eyes of all—the Moon of Banu Hashim rose before his father.
That unparalleled champion was none other than Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas (peace be upon him).
